2024 Program and Speakers
This year's Annual Conference on Leadership Matters - Harnessing Policing Excellence is a commendable initiative that can contribute significantly to the professional development and effectiveness of law enforcement professionals. The OACP Annual Conference provides a platform for leaders, practitioners, and subject matter experts to share insights, best practices, and innovations in policing.
Objectives
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Explore emerging trends and challenges in law enforcement leadership.
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Best practices in policing excellence and innovation.
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Foster networking and collaboration among law enforcement professionals.
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Providing a platform for discussing the role of leadership in community policing.
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Enhance skills and knowledge related to contemporary law enforcement issues.
The OACP Annual Conference will be focused on leadership and excellence in policing that will serve as a catalyst for positive change in law enforcement, as well as, provide a forum for learning, collaboration, inspiration, and a networking opportunity. This will ultimately benefit the communities that are being served by dedicated law enforcement professionals.
Ice Breaker
Sunday, June 9th, 2024
RBC Place London
300 York Street
London, ON
6:30 - 11:00 PM
Monday, June 10th, 2024
'Leading Police Organizations'
RBC Place London
Ballroom 3 & 4
Opening Keynote Speaker
Laurie White
| About Laurie White |
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Laurie White (retired Sgt, Royal Canadian Mounted Police) While stationed in Kitimat, B.C. in 1998, Laurie was shot in the right leg by a sex offender wielding a sawed-off .303 rifle. Damage was so severe that her leg had to be amputated 5 inches below her knee. After only ten months of rehabilitation, Laurie passed the P.A.R.E. (the RCMP’s physical test) and made an unprecedented return to full, unrestricted general policing duties with a prosthetic leg. When Laurie retired from the RCMP in 2020, she achieved a 22+ year goal of publishing her memoir (“10-33 An Officer Down Steps Back Up”). Laurie has been a sought-after speaker since 1999. She candidly shares her experiences as a first responder navigating mental health issues and life with a permanent physical disability. While Laurie’s journey began as one of trauma, loss, and grief, it evolved into one of hope, resilience, and post-traumatic growth. Laurie is also the recipient of several awards, including the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal, as well as the medal of Valour from the International Association of Women in Police. |
Session #1
Military Veterans Wellness Program
Jeremy Burns & Aaron Dale
Toronto Police Service
Session #2
Police Services Will Not Succeed Without Putting 'Leadership First'
Chris D. Lewis
Talking Point |
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Chris Lewis, former Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police & Author of "Never Stop on a Hill" Ontario police personnel are facing unprecedented pressures from a variety of perspectives, including a constant state of change; budget/staffing shortfalls; emerging crime trends; protracted and complex protests; public criticism; intense media scrutiny; political discourse; and increasing violence. They continue to be the default response to many socio-economic failings then get criticized for it. All of this significantly impacts employee morale and therefore recruiting and retention, and potentially public trust. As police leaders develop goals, objectives, strategies, and metrics to meet all these needs and more, it’s easy to forget that morale is directly related to productivity and professionalism and none of their goals will be met without an inspired and engaged workforce that trusts their leaders. It’s never been more important to refocus on the basics of “leadership” from top to bottom in law enforcement organizations. Hear the thoughts and suggestions of author/speaker and retired OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis as to “why” and “how”. |
About Chris D. Lewis |
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Chris D. Lewis became Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in 2010, where he oversaw he oversaw front-line policing, traffic and marine operations, emergency response and multi-jurisdictional investigations throughout the Province of Ontario, including service to 324 municipalities; highways and waterways; delivered through 9,000 personnel. After joining the OPP in 1978, Commissioner Lewis served in uniformed patrol, various investigative disciplines, tactical operations and a number of command positions. He retired from the OPP in 2014, but continues to lecture on leadership and policing issues across North America. He has authored numerous articles and in 2016 he published a book on leadership, entitled: Never Stop on a Hill, the profits from which are entirely committed to Special Olympics. In addition, he is currently the Public Safety Analyst for Bell Media (CTV) appearing regularly in local and national radio and television news stories across Canada. |
Session #3
The "Information Rich, Data Poor" Paradigm - Re-engineering Policing
Matthew Torigian
Talking Points |
| Re-engineering policing is the single most overlooked element of community policing. It might also be the most misunderstood and most contentious, which is why it sits neglected at the peril of community safety. It requires investments, and leadership, that are often sidelined or expended for more critical matters. To be certain, re-engineering a police service is a change management exercise that touches on all parts of the police organization. Policies, procedures, and processes are focuses of change, as is the need for improving data and modernizing technology. The fundamental resource for an effective police agency, and the integral element to community safety, lies in the ability to gather information, and use the information to garner meaningful data. Many police services are ‘information rich, and data poor’. This presentation outlines the need to re-engineer policing; illustrates how it fits within the overall ethos of community policing; and provides examples of how it can lead to improved safety, security, and the overall well-being of our cities |
About Matthew Torigian |
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Matt Torigian is a leader in policing and public administration in Ontario, with a career that has spanned over 33 years and touched on all aspects of community safety. He has served as Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Community Safety and the chief of a large police service. Currently, he serves as a Distinguished Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, where he is leading a global policing initiative within the Global Justice Lab. Matt served as the Deputy Minister of Community Safety from 2014–2018 with a portfolio that included the Ontario Provincial Police; public safety, including police education and training; the monitoring and inspections of police services and boards; the provincial security advisor; criminal intelligence services of Ontario; the death investigations system; and the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management. Additionally, for a time, he was responsible for overseeing Ontario’s correctional system. Prior to his appointment to the Ontario Public Service, Matt served 29 years with the Waterloo Regional Police Service and was appointed Waterloo Region’s fifth chief of police on December 12, 2007, a role he held for seven years. Matt is a past president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and served as a member of the board of directors with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. Matt has a Master of Public Administration degree from Western University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University. He has completed extensive graduate justice studies courses at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and was invested as an Officer of the Order of Merit of Police Forces in 2012. |
Session # 4
Leading Through Words: Strategic Communications for Police Chiefs
Julie Parker
Talking Points |
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Tailored for law enforcement executives, this crisis communications primer is fueled by Julie Parker’s passion for policing and helping agencies nail their messaging when it matters most. Julie's decades of communications experience as an Emmy Award-winning former reporter and anchor in Washington, DC, the media relations director of two large U.S. police departments, and the CEO of a boutique crisis communications firm has landed her on stages presenting to law enforcement agencies across North America. She'll share her philosophy that has guided her crisis communications response for agencies of 12 up to departments with thousands of officers. She firmly believes actively communicating with the public through social media and the traditional media benefits both the law enforcement agency and those they serve. A big fan of action items, she'll leave the audience with proven communications strategies that can be immediately put to use to provide a more agile and efficient communications response for any size agency. Julie travels the U.S. with the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security offering jurisdictions guidance on handling critical incidents from a crisis communications perspective and delivered a decade of regular speaking appearances at the FBI National Academy. Additionally, the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing invited Julie to provide written testimony on technology and social media. |
About Julie Parker |
| Julie Parker’s entire career has led to this moment as the CEO of her own consultancy, Julie Parker Communications. With deep experience in all facets of the media industry, she is uniquely positioned to guide government agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations through the intricacies of communications training. Her roles as an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist in Washington, DC, as well as media relations director for two large police departments honed Julie’s skills in providing effective, timely and accurate reporting. She is now called upon by such esteemed agencies as the Naval Postgraduate School and the FBI National Academy as a presenter and trainer. Most notably, Julie was brought in 30 days after the January 6th attack and successfully guided the United States Capitol Police through the media and social media aftermath. The transformative results did not go unnoticed as Julie and her team were doubly honored this year by the Ragan Crisis Communication Awards in the Reputation Turnaround Campaign and Government/NGOs categories. It is just such success stories that led to a feature in the Washington Post highlighting Julie’s work and the honor of providing written testimony on technology and social media for The President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Alongside her team of seasoned subject matter experts, Julie continues to provide this critical service to organizations no matter their size or communication needs. Connect with Julie on X (formerly Twitter) at @JulieParkerComm and on LinkedIn. |
Social Event
President's Night
Hospitality & Entertainment
London Hunt and Country Club